Message - Prof. Lakshman R. Watawala

CMA Sri Lanka is pleased to conduct the “CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards - 2023” for the 9th consecutive year and the grand finale was held on 6th October under the distinguished patronage of the President International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) the global body for the Accounting Profession Ms. Asmâa Resmouki, Since the inception of this competition in the year 2015, we could witness an overwhelming number of companies both quoted and unquoted, private and state owned applying for the CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards competition with 53 applications received this year showing the recognition and wide acceptance by the business community. Today Sri Lanka is in the forefront of Integrated Reporting in the South Asian Region. This year too we will recognize the voluntary efforts taken by the business organizations in both the private and public sector in adopting integrated reporting, integrated thinking and Value Creation to their stakeholders in the short, medium and long term. The integrated reports are evaluated using guidelines applicable in the International Framework issued in December 2013 and revised in 2021. The evaluation will take into account not only the accounting and financial information,

but also non-financial information provided in . We wish to thank the Colombo Stock Exchange the “Supporting Partner” for the “CMA Excellence in Integrated Reporting Awards - 2023” and they should be proud that their continuing support has resulted in many public quoted companies taking part in the event and winning the top awards at the competition. The presence of the Chairman and CEO justifies their support for the IR Awards competition. We also appreciate the support given by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka and the presence of the Chairman at the Awards Ceremony. My thanks also to the local evaluation panel and the Senior Evaluation Panel that worked with dedication, skill and competence to finalise the Evaluation Report submitted to the Judges for their final judgement. My thanks are also due to our eminent panel of foreign and local Judges Chaired by Prof Ho Yew Kee who has been the chairman since the commencement of the IR awards and their valuable services to make this event a great success. It would be appropriate to mention the developments taking place which includes further developing the Integrated Reporting Framework, which the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the ISSB assumed responsibility for when the Value Reporting Foundation merged with the IFRS Foundation in August 2022.  We wish to congratulate all public quoted companies, private and state organizations, SMEs, and the Government sector who participated in this competition and the most outstanding companies which will receive awards today